Well, while Friday night's trip to the dragstrip was very productive...Saturday's trip didn't go so well. After two time runs, the trans gave up the ghost. It didn't so much as make a sound either. No slipping, no shuddering, nothing at all when it happened during the run. It began to slip on the return road, and when I stopped to get my time slip, it wouldn't move after that. Thought a transmission cooler line had come loose or something. Towed it back to the trailer and crawled underneath and found the damage. I guess I need to find another trans before next weekend. I don't think this one is going to be making any more trips down the track! Oh well, that's racing! Any ideas or opinions on why it may have happened? Maybe I'll be able to tell a little more after I tear into it later in the week. I just want to see what the inside looks like.
It looks like it happened 'cause you've got a stong engine and a heavy foot.... 'Course I'm no doctor!! In all honesty though, I hate it for you!! What was your time?? or times??
Looks to me like you lost the governer gov'na! I'm not C4 expert, but I just had one apart today and that's the location of the governer and from the looks of yours it flew apart. Good news? Maybe if you replace it and the tailshaft housing, you'll be running again!
I'm definitely no transmission man! But, I tend to agree with you on your assessment that this is what happened. I still don't know why though... maybe PaulS or Old Guy will chime in here later. Preston... strong motor... not really. Pretty much a stock 302. A few mods, but nothing radical. Just running 9.5x's in the 1/8th, around 74 mph. But it was photocopying timeslips! That's what is so irritating about it! Oh well, maybe I can get it going by this weekend and get back out there. Later,
My guess...once again I'm not an expert, nor do I play one on TV...but it could be as simple as a loose or broken bolt (they are very tiny on the governor) or fatigue in the metal itself. I think you just had a freak thing happen. But the transmission experts can tell you more. Good luck and let us know what you find out!
Hmpffh! Probably needed to be rebuilt anyway! Hope I can save up and get mine rebuilt before something like this happens to me
I can think of two causes for this breakage: 1. Snap ring came off the output shaft inside the low/rev. drum 2. Govrnor exploded and wedged between the shaft and case. you won't know for sure until you get it completely apart. Replace the output shaft, governor and tail housing. You can have the shaft checked fo straightness instead of just replacing it but the other two you should replace - oh, and replace the snap ring inside the low/rev. drum no matter what - it might fail next time if it didn't this time.
Updated Pics... Well guys, I removed the tailshaft housing and this is what I found. Not pretty! Not only did it explode the governor, it cracked the case too! Now for a question...I have another c4 sitting in the shop. It is out of a '73 3/4 ton van. It has the dipstick in the pan instead of the case. Any thoughts on whether this trans would be a good candidate to put into the Mav? Any clearence issues with the dipstick or tube? And where can I get another dipstick tube. The one on this trans is kinked. Thanks for any assistance. Later,
Um...not sure if it is supposed to look like that... Hope you can get the other c4 to work, or at least be able to take the two and make one good one for your car. I think (but don't know) that the dipstick location can be dealt with with your 2 trannies...but you will have to mix and match parts to make it all go together well. Might be better off just buying a new tranny...
Wonder if you could cut the van trans dipstick tube, then cut the dipstick itself the same length. I see no reason why that trans would not work out for you, it does have the long dipstick tube right? dan
